Paulo Costa inserted himself into the conversation after UFC Fight Night 282, saying he now sees a path into the title mix. In the same stretch, he also took aim at Magomed Ankalaev, arguing that Ankalaev is closer to being cut than earning a championship opportunity.
Costa's remarks came after Ankalaev turned in a dominant performance against Bogdan Guskov. Even with that result, Costa made it clear he is not convinced Ankalaev should be treated as a leading title candidate.
The comments add another layer to the debate around UFC matchmaking following the event. Costa appears to be using the moment to raise his own profile while dismissing the momentum created by Ankalaev's latest win.
With Costa pushing his name forward and Ankalaev coming off a strong showing, UFC Fight Night 282 has left fans with another talking point in the race for future title opportunities.
